India urges action on technology transfer in Durban

INES is the French National Institute for Solar Energy created in 2006 close to Chambery. INES  is strongly supported by CSTB (Scientific and technical centre for buildings), CNRS (National Centre for Scientific research) and CEA (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique). The department for Solar technologies is dedicated to all the technologies involved in Solar energies: from material (process development of Solar grade silicon by purification of metallurgical grade silicon), cells (Silicon solar cells, Organic solar cells) to modules (development of new processes for module manufacturing) and systems (PV, thermal and energy storage). 80 people are presently working in this department. In addition CEA-Grenoble has a technological structure to develop silicon PV cells production processes suitable for industrialization. The platform is equipped with cutting edge devices making CEA-INES a key centre in Europe for developing large cells. The INES is currently home to more than 100 staff in 3 divisions: R&D, Training and Outreach, and Demonstration.

Developing countries are pressing for technology to flow from developed nations (Source: EU)

By RTCC staff

Developing countries must come together to ensure technology transfer and intellectual property rights (IPR) receive adequate attention in Durban, according to the Indian Environment Minister.

Jayanthi Natarajan called for an IPR framework that enabled the flow of technologies to countries with pressing mitigation and adaptation needs.

The country, through its membership of the BASIC negotiating bloc, has lobbied for IPR to feature on the provisional agenda for the COP17 talks in Durban next week.

“The G77 and China must speak with one voice. Our effort is to restore the issues in Durban,” said Natarajan adding that the discussions about the technology mechanism in Cancun “were not discussed properly…in the rush to reach a decision”.

The BASIC ministers’ statement repeats this call highlighting “the need to address the IPR issue properly and the early operation of the technology mechanism to advance climate-friendly technology transfer to developing countries”.

It also calls for clarity on the relationship between the technology mechanism and sources of funding. The BASIC statement demands that developed countries should fulfil their financing commitment of $30 billion, as detailed in Cancun.

They also press for a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.

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